New York (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that she is "absolutely" satisfied with what she knows about the Benghazi terror attack, and cast doubt on the intentions of House Republicans spearheading a select committee to investigate it.

"I mean of course there are a lot of reasons why, despite all of the hearings, all of the information that’s been provided, some choose not to be satisfied and choose to continue to move forward," Clinton said in an appearance in New York.

"That’s their choice and I do not believe there is any reason for it to continue in this way, but they get to call the shots in the Congress," she said.

The remarks were her first public comments on the formation of a select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in eastern Libya that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Benghazi has become a partisan flashpoint over President Barack Obama’s conduct of foreign policy and is likely to dog Clinton as she considers launching another White House run.

Republicans have held her culpable since she led the State Department at the time, and some have said the attack should disqualify her from holding elected office.

At multiple events this year, Clinton has said Benghazi was her "biggest regret" from her tenure as America’s top diplomat.

"It was a terrible tragedy losing four Americans, two diplomats and now it is public so I can say two CIA operatives," she said previously in New Orleans.

A Senate report earlier this year said the attack was "likely preventable" based on known security shortfalls and prior warnings that the security situation there was deteriorating.

The decision to launch a new investigation follows the disclosure of information last week that Republicans say supports their contention the White House politicized its public response to the armed assault.

Democrats have bristled at the formation of a select committee since other congressional panels have been investigating the matter since it occurred. They counter that Republicans have politicized the investigation.

"My biggest regret is what happened in Benghazi," Clinton said in New Orleans. "It was a terrible tragedy losing four Americans, two diplomats and now it is public so I can say two CIA operatives."

soundoff(60 Responses)

My "biggest regret" is seeing US political system being dented by the nature of political partisanship of the current crops of GOPers on issues. When opposition is evil oriented its retrogressive instead.

May 8, 2014 06:08 am at 6:08 am |

@RI_Roger

Of course Mrs. Clinton would say the next investigation is not necessary, she's at the heart of why it needs to be done. She promised the families they would get those responsible for the deaths of the 4 Americans and to this date, nothing has been done an nobody held accountable..... We need to know if politics trumped justice.

May 8, 2014 06:16 am at 6:16 am |

hkirwin

This are could have been avoided if Obama and Clinton would have came clean in the first place. I know many on the left will say they did. However, if they did this new document and others would have been disclosed during the original request for information. Stone-walling, withholding documents, and pleading the 5th isn't full discloser or coming clean.

May 8, 2014 06:29 am at 6:29 am |

Marie MD

The teaklans are doing what they do best. Keep bringing up things that don't matter (not that four lives were lost but how and why) to most of us. It's been covered ad nauseum. Instead of going after the same old story how about JOBS, JOBS, JOBS and moving the country forward?
If they had been pounding this hard during the shrub $43 administration when almost 50 Americans were killed in similar attacks then they would have more credence.
As it stands, this is not what is going to bring Hillary down in 2016 if she runs.

May 8, 2014 06:30 am at 6:30 am |

larry

For once I agree with her. We all know the administration is guilty of a cover up and lies. Instead of investigating we should be impeaching.

May 8, 2014 06:56 am at 6:56 am |

george

Of course she says she did nothing wrong. She is trying to do her next four year term as president. I would have thought of voting for her, not because she is a woman, but now that I know she is like oliar and would not tell the truth on anything even a dead republican would get my vote before a democrat.

May 8, 2014 07:27 am at 7:27 am |

PKRipper

It's not what happened that's at issue here Mrs. Clinton, it's the attempted cover up. You and the president knew the uprising was never over a video yet you both attempted to mislead the American people and tell them that it was. What we want is for you to tell us why. Just tell us why when you knew the truth you told us something you knew was not the truth. Pretty simple request really.

May 8, 2014 07:31 am at 7:31 am |

bob

Would not believe a word that comes out of her mouth, just more Clinton lies

May 8, 2014 07:47 am at 7:47 am |

uncdig

"it was a terrible tragedy" , and her "biggest regret", yet no expression of any kind of accountability. no wonder Obama picked her, she's just like him